Abuja, Nigeria – May 8, 2025 – Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan delivered a powerful warning against the covert establishment of a one-party state during a memorial lecture honoring the late elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark in Abuja on Wednesday. The event, held to pay tribute to the prominent Ijaw leader who passed away in February at age 97, drew notable figures, including former Head of State Yakubu Gowon and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Jonathan cautioned that silencing opposition and manipulating political processes to favor a single party could destabilize Nigeria’s fragile democracy. “Nigeria must not slip into a one-party state. Silencing opposition threatens our democracy,” he emphasized, urging careful planning and clear objectives for any nation considering such a system. He highlighted Clark’s legacy of promoting national unity and equity, describing him as a fearless leader whose “shoes are too big for anyone to fill.” Jonathan also called for an annual memorial lecture to sustain Clark’s vision for a united and prosperous Nigeria.
Peter Obi, also speaking at the event, lamented that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding fathers, including Clark, were “already in vain” due to the nation’s worsening socio-economic crisis. The memorial underscored Clark’s significant contributions as a nationalist and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The event follows Jonathan’s earlier condolence visit to the Clark family in February, led by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, where he described Clark’s legacy as irreplaceable.
